Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote is the Director-General, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency (PPA). Born on 16th February, 1967 in Ketu-Ereyun in Ikosi Ejinrin LCDA of Lagos State, Mr. Onafowote obtained his “O” Level School Certificate in 1984 at Ilugun Central Academy, Ibido Odosenbora, Ogun State. He later obtained his “A” Level School Certificate from the School of Basic Studies, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
For his tertiary education, Mr Onafowote attended the University of Ibadan, Ibadan where he obtained a degree in Agriculture (B.Sc. Agricultural Biochemistry and Nutrition) in 1990, graduating with Second Class Honours, Upper Division. In 1997, he also obtained a Master’s degree in Information Science (M.Inf.Sc.) at the African Regional Centre for Information Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
He began his Public Service career as a Seed Officer at the Lagos State Agricultural Development Project (LSADP) in 1992. He later served as a Subject Matter Specialist (Crops) and Programme Secretary, Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS), Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA) between 2002 and 2007, Facilitator (Monitoring and Evaluation)- Expansion Phase – National Programme for Food Security (January –November 2007), Desk Officer, Commercial Agricultural Development Project (CADP), a World Bank – Assisted Project (under the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority), November 2007- May 2009. He later became a Procurement Officer for the Project in June, 2009.
Following the creation of the Procurement Officers’ cadre in the Lagos State Public Service, Mr. Onafowote got integrated into the mainstream Civil Service of the State as a Procurement Officer in 2012. He, however, continued to serve as Procurement Officer of the Commercial Agriculture Development Project under the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority from 2012 until his appointment as acting General Manager of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency in May, 2016. He was later confirmed as substantive General Manager of the Agency in December 2018 after appearing before the Lagos State House of Assembly.
In March, 2021 when a new Lagos State Public Procurement Agency Law was enacted by the State Government, the designation of the Chief Executive Officer of the Agency was changed from “General Manager” to “Director-General” and Mr. Onafowote’s designation as Chief Executive Officer automatically changed to “Director-General”. He also became the Secretary and a member of the Governing Board of the Agency.
Following the expiration of his first four-year term, Mr. Onafowote was re-appointed by the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, as Director-General of the Agency in February, 2023.
Mr. Onafowote is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN) and a fellow of the Institute of Information Management, Africa (IIM). He was recently awarded a Fellowship of the Association of Public Procurement Practitioners of Nigeria (APPON).
The following are among the major landmark achievements and contributions of Mr. Onafowote to the Public Service of Lagos State.
He participated in the drafting of the Lagos State Public Procurement Law enacted in October 2011, the implementation of which commenced in April 2014.
He also participated in the review of projects being considered for implementation under the various MDAs to determine their adequacy for issuance of Letters of No Objection, Confirmation or Certificate of Compliance.
He also participated actively as a member of “Community of Practice” being facilitated by the State Performance, Accountability, Responsibility, Responsiveness and Capability (SPARC).
Mr. Onafowote has participated in a number of local and foreign training programmes including:
- World Bank- Assisted Procurement Cycle Tracking System (PROCYS)
- Evaluation of bids for the construction of Farm Access Roads in Cross River,
Enugu, Kano and Kaduna States (February – March, 2011).
- Evaluation of consultancy services organised by the National Coordinating Office of Commercial Agriculture Development Project.
- Courses on Contract and Project Management, held in Ontario, Toronto, Canada.
- The 12th Annual Procurement Leaders Europe Forum, held from 4th-6th October, 2017 in Buers Van Berlage, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Training on Contract Administration from Award to Completion, organised by EuroMaTech in May, 2019 in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai.
- Seminar on Leadership Development and Excellence in Public Administration, Dubai in 2022.
- Seminar on Leadership Development and Excellence in Public Administration, Dublin in 2023.
Mr. Onafowote is happily married and blessed with children. His hobbies are reading, swimming and singing.
Last modified: April 16, 2024
